How to Paint a Poinsettia
Source: Erin (Snowberry Design Co) • Full tutorial: www.craftingstepbystep.com/painting/how-to-paint-a-poinsettia
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Hands-on time
- About 25 minutes
- Wait time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- About $1 to $3
- Makes
- 1 poinsettia painting
Tools
- size 16 round watercolor brush
- size 0 round detail brush
- palette
- water jar
- paper towel
Materials
- cold press watercolor paper
- scarlet red watercolor
- green watercolor
- gold metallic watercolor or gel pen
Steps
1. Paint an X Guide for the Watercolor Poinsettia
Load a size 16 round brush with red and paint a small X where you want the center of your poinsettia. Then paint a straight line through the middle of the X.
Tip: Keep the guide small. The petals will grow well past it.
2. Paint the First Poinsettia Petals Over the Guide Lines
Paint one long, pointed petal over each guide line, starting at the center and pulling out. Press the brush down to widen the middle of the petal, then lift as you reach the tip so it comes to a point.
Tip: Let some patches stay lighter. It makes the petals look natural.
3. Add a Second Layer of Poinsettia Petals
Paint a second set of petals in the gaps between the first ones. Make these a little shorter so the flower looks layered.
Tip: Work around the flower so the petals stay evenly spaced.
4. Paint Green Leaves Behind the Poinsettia
Switch to green and paint a leaf peeking out over one of the smaller petals. Get really close to the red without touching it.
Tip: Waiting for the petals to dry first makes this much easier.
5. Fill White Space With Small Poinsettia Leaves
Add a few small leaves in the gaps around the poinsettia. They fill out the white space and make the bloom look lush.
Tip: Odd numbers of filler leaves usually look best.
6. Dot Gold Into the Poinsettia Center
Once the petals are dry, dot gold paint into the center of the flower. Real poinsettias have small yellow buds in the middle, and a cluster of gold dots gives that look with a bit of holiday sparkle.
Tip: Keep the gold to a small cluster. It is an accent, not a fill.
7. Add Dark Red Vein Details to the Poinsettia Petals
Mix a darker red and switch to a size 0 round brush. Paint a fine line down the middle of each petal, then a few small lines branching out from it.
Tip: Not every petal needs every vein. A few is enough.
8. Paint Dark Green Vein Lines on the Leaves
To finish, mix a darker green and add the same kind of detail lines to the leaves. Paint a center vein, then short lines angling off it toward the edges.
Tip: Sign it small in the corner with the fine brush.
